NBA players, coach to visit Cebu to help rebuild communities

MANILA, Philippines - NBA players Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews of the Portland Trail Blazers, along with NBA legend Avery Johnson, will travel to Northern Cebu Friday to help communities affected by Typhoon Yolanda, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and World Vision Philippines announced today.

Lopez, Matthews and Johnson will support the NBA’s ongoing commitment to help children and families affected by the disaster rebuild their lives by visiting affected communities like Compostela Municipality and conducting basketball clinics for the local children.

“Typhoon Yolanda caused sweeping destruction on a national scale, and those who were most impacted are still coping with its devastation months after,” said Carlo Singson, NBA country manager, Philippines.

“The residents in Northern Cebu are one such group, and we support World Vision Philippines’ tireless efforts to help the city and its communities rebuild.

We hope our visit will help lift the spirits of the people of Northern Cebu as the city continues its road to recovery.”

“The NBA has assisted World Vision’s emergency responses in the past, and we are grateful for the continued support,” said Josaias dela Cruz, executive director, World Vision Development Foundation.

“We are happy to host the upcoming visit of Robin Lopez, Wesley Matthews and Avery Johnson to Cebu, and our community partners, especially the basketball-loving children, will be delighted to meet with the NBA players in what we trust will be a fun and meaningful exchange for both the NBA visitors and the local community.”

The NBA Family has contributed more than $2.2 million in support of Typhoon Yolanda relief efforts, including a $250,000 contribution to World Vision in November 2013 by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).

In November 2013, the 2013 Jr. NBA Philippines All-Stars visited Los Angeles as part of their NBA Experience trip and – on behalf of the Philippine Red Cross – accepted a $150,000 Los Angeles Lakers contribution, which was presented by Lakers star Kobe Bryant at center court of the Staples Center.

In August 2014, the NBA partnered with the US Embassy in the Philippines to bring NBA Legend Derrick Alston and WNBA Legend Allison Feaster to the Philippines to participate in sports diplomacy activities.

The envoys visited disaster-hit Leyte and Cebu City to donate books and basketballs and participated in school construction and tree planting.

Visit http://www.nba.com/cares/typhoonrelief.html for more information or to make a contribution to Typhoon Yolanda relief efforts. 

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